8th Pay Commission Delay: Over 1 crore central government employees and pensioners have been expressing their displeasure through various official forums about the delay in the issuance of notification on the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the new panel and the appointment of the members of the commission. In this regard, various employee representative bodies and unions have written to the government, drawing their attention to the delay in finalisation of the ToR, which will be the basis of the revision of salaries and pensions of the central government staff.
Now, the Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS) has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the formation of the 8th Pay Commission and speeding up its functioning. This organisation works for the interests of railway pensioners.
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The Modi government had announced the 8th Pay Commission in January this year and it was expected that the ToR finalisation and members appointment would be completed by April 2025. But considering the current progress, it seems that there will be a further delay since the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has extended for the third time the application submission deadline for under-secretary posts under the 8th pay panel.
Meanwhile, the RSCWS has said in its letter that the announcement of the 8th Pay Commission had raised “huge relief and hope” among serving central government employees and pensioners across the country.
However, due to the delay in deciding the ToR along with the appointment of the chairman and members of the commission, now “uncertainty and anxiety” is increasing among the employees and pensioners.
8th Pay Commission: Lack of concrete progress leading to ‘growing uncertainty’
“This prolonged silence and lack of concrete progress in formalising the commission are leading to growing uncertainty and apprehension among the central government employees and pensioners,” RSCWS chairman T S Kalra said in a letter to PM Modi on June 30, 2025.
Why is it necessary to constitute the 8th Pay Commission on time?
The letter also cites some key reasons for expediting the work of the commission keeping in mind the interest of pensioners:
Dealing with economic realities
The recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission expire on December 31, 2025. In such a situation, timely review and revision of the pay structure is very important in view of rising inflation and cost of living.
Enhancing morale and productivity
Clarity and timely implementation of the pay structure will increase the morale and enthusiasm of employees, which will improve their productivity and service spirit.
Ensuring financial security
Timely revision of pension for retired personnel is extremely important for their economic security and dignified life. Concerns are being raised especially about pensioners getting the benefit of pay revision.
Curb on speculation and rumours
The formation of the commission and not making the ToR public leads to the spread of various rumours, which creates confusion in the entire system. The organization described transparency as the most important step to restore trust.
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8th Pay Commission: RSCWS key demands
Keeping these points in mind, RSCWS wrote a letter to the Prime Minister and made the following demands:
Quick formation of the Commission: The chairman and members of the 8th Pay Commission should be announced as soon as possible.
Finalisation and making public of Terms of Reference: The scope of the commission, review of allowances, pension related facilities and special demands such as the restoration period of commuted pension should be clearly defined and made public.
Setting a clear timeline: A fixed timeline should be fixed and made public as to when the recommendations of the commission will come and what steps will be taken towards implementing them from January 1, 2026.
“A proactive approach in this matter will reaffirm the government’s commitment to the welfare of its employees and pensioners, ensuring that their genuine concerns are addressed without undue delay,” the RSCWS president wrote in his letter.
